Train connection



June 29 1926.

A 1,590,537 J. MERRYWEATHER TRAIN CONNECTION Filed Jan. 8, 1926 l w I l I l I l I l I I l I l I I l I ||llll|l.

Patented June 29, 1925.

UNITED sra'rss JAMES MERRY'WEATHER, OF GREENCASTLE, INDIANA.

TRAIN CONNECTION.

Application filed January This invention Vrelates to a train connection and is designed primarily as an improvement upon the structure disclosed in Patent 1,121,522 issued to me on December of the hose connections.

In the patented structure a means is provided for simultaneously lifting a coupling pin and breaking the connection between the couplings of the ieXible hose. It has been found inl practice, however, that because of the constantly changing positions of the connected cars relative to each other, it is practically impossible to effect simultaneous uncoupling of the car couplers and uncoupling Instead one or the other will remain coupled in many instances with the result that injury to some part is likely to occur or else the coupling operation will not be completed The present invention is designed to insure uncoupling of the parts in properly timed relation so that the objections heretofore present will be overcome.

lith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrange-ment of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood thatchanges in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope oit what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings,

Figure l is a horizontal section through end portions of two cars the coupling means and the mechanism provided for unco-upling, being shown in plan.

Figure 2 is a. section on line 2 2 Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the oper- Y ating member.

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the shaft ot' the operating member and a portion of the lost motion connection..

Figure 5 is a section on line 5--5 Figure 4.

Referring to the figures by characters oit reference A designates end portions of cars connected in the usual way by means of couplings B o1 the Janney type wherein pins C are employed for preventing uncoupling. Portions of pipe lines have been shown at D and these are provided with flexible hose E having coupling members .F ,of the usual type one of which is adapted to 8,'1926. Serial No. 80,102.

be lifted relative tov the. other for the purpose of uncoupling the hose.

F or the purpose of, actuating the pins C and the couplings v so as to completely disconnect the cars A whenever desired, each car is provided at each ond with a transverse shaft l mounted for rotation in suitable bearings 2 and provided at one or both ends withV a crank 3 or the like whereby the shaft can be rotated readily. Secured to the shaft as to move therewithE is a radial arm 4 provided with a chain 5 or other suitable flexible connection whereby the arm is connected to one of the members F of the hose coupling thereunder.

Another arm 6 is mounted loosely on the shaft l. between collars 7 which serve to hold arm G against lateral displacement. This arm 6 is connected by a chain 8 or the like to the pin C thereunder. A. cross strip 8 connects trie collars 7 and is so positioned that #terthe shaft l has been rotated a predetermined distance in one direction said strip will come against the arm 6 and swing it upwardly so as to pull through the connection i 8 upon the pin C.

Vhen it is desired to uucouple the cars A the shaft l is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 4. Thus the arm 4 will promptly pull through the chain or other connection 5 upon one of the coupling members F so as to uncouple the hose. VDuring this operation the strip 8 is travelling 'torwaiwlly toward the arm 6 and immediately ollowing the uncoupling of the hose, strip 8 comes against the arm 6 and swings it upwardly. Said arm will thus pull through the connection 8 upon the pin C aiid raise it so as to release the ycoupling B and complete the unconpling operation. Obviously by providing the lost motion connection formed by the strip 8 and the arm 6 the coupling member F and the pin C will be operated in properly timed succession and there will be no danger of either premature or delayed operation of either of the parts and consequent failure of the uncoupling operation.

It is to be understood that any desired number of hose connections may be provided and in that event additional arms 4 can be used for operating the connections between the hose.

V'Vhat is claimed is:

l. The combination with railway cars, couplings carried thereby and adapted. to

interlock, pins for holding the couplings against separation, pipe lines including a flexible hose, and couplings between the hose, oi' a rotatable shaft upon each car, and means operated by the rotation of the shaft in one direction for iirst disconnecting the hose coupling and thereafter lifting a pin to release the car couplings.

2. The combination with railway cars, couplings carried thereby adapted to interlock, pipe lines, and couplings for connecting the pipe lines, of means upon one of the ears rotatable in one direction for first disconnecting the coupling of the pipe lines and thereafter disconnecting the car couplings.

3. The combination with railway ears,

normally intel-looked couplings carried thereby7 pipe lines7 and normally interlocked couplings connecting the pipe lines, of a shatt on one of the cars, means for rotating the Same, a lifting arm movable with the shaft, a-coniiection between said arm and one of the couplings of the pipe line, a lifting arm connected to one ot' the car couplings, and a lost motion means operated by the shaft for actuating the lifting arm of the car coupling subsequently to the actuation of the pipe line couplingr by the other arm.

ln testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own7 I have hereto affixed my Signature.

JAMES lvERRYWTEA'lHER. 

